Method and apparatus for displaying an image from a communications device

ABSTRACT

A holster is provided to receive a radio (mobile communications device). The radio is operatively equipped with a front-facing touchscreen. The holster is equipped with an optical reflector. The optical reflector is adapted to change the direction of light rays passing through it in order to reflect only a portion of the front-facing touchscreen to a top window located within the holster. The top window and the touchscreen are substantially perpendicular to each other. The holster is equipped with at least one capacitive touch extension element that couples the top window to a point on the touchscreen to control an interface element on the touchscreen.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to application Ser. No. ______(Docket No. PAT24290) filed on the same date as the present application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional two-way portable radios are usually designed with a maindisplay on a front panel to provide essential information to a user.Generally, the portable radio is carried in a holster or held by a beltclip. To view displayed information, the user must remove the radio fromthe holster or disengage the belt clip. Public safety personnel, such asfire fighters, police officers, rescue members, and the like, often weargloves and other safety equipment that can make it difficult to removethe radio from the holster or disengage the belt clip.

For example, during a mission critical task, the user may not be able toremove safety gloves to pull the radio from the holster or disengage thebelt clip. Thus, two-way radio users especially those working in publicsafety and mission critical tasks would benefit from a display interfacewhich provides information at a quick glance, without having to removethe radio from the holster or belt clip.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,382,294 attempts to solve the above-mentioned problem byproviding a radio that can channel a portion of the display to a topwindow so that the user does not have to remove the radio from a belt inorder to see information displayed on the radio. However, the '294patent has several drawbacks. Firstly, radios of today typically utilizea touch-screen, with the user interacting with interface elementsdisplayed on the touchscreen. There is no current way for a user tointeract with such interface elements using the top window. Secondly, ifa radio is not worn on the belt, the bulky top display is not needed.

Therefore, it would be beneficial if a top display could be utilizedwhich could control interface elements on a touchscreen of the radio,and also be removable for when a user does not carry the radio on abelt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures where like reference numerals refer toidentical or functionally similar elements throughout the separateviews, and which together with the detailed description below areincorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to furtherillustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles andadvantages all in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a holster.

FIG. 2 shows a holster and a radio.

FIG. 3 is a cutaway view of a holster attached to a radio.

FIG. 4 illustrates a radio.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a radio attached to a holster.

FIG. 6 illustrates a display on a radio.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a radio.

FIG. 8 illustrates a touchscreen display on a radio.

FIG. 9 illustrates a touchscreen display on a radio.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing operation of device

Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures areillustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily beendrawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioningof some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative toother elements to help to improve understanding of various embodimentsof the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements thatare useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are oftennot depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of thesevarious embodiments of the present invention. It will further beappreciated that certain actions and/or steps may be described ordepicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in theart will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence isnot actually required.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In order to address the above-mentioned need, a holster is provided toreceive a radio (mobile communications device). The radio is operativelyequipped with a front-facing touchscreen. The holster is equipped withan optical reflector. The optical reflector is adapted to change thedirection of light rays passing through it in order to reflect only aportion of the front-facing touchscreen to a top window located withinthe holster. The top window and the touchscreen are substantiallyperpendicular to each other. The holster is equipped with at least onecapacitive touch extension element that couples the top window to apoint on the touchscreen to control an interface element on thetouchscreen.

FIG. 1 illustrates holster 100 for carrying a communications device onthe person (as on the hip or chest), on a saddle, or in a vehicle. Asshown, holster 100 comprises peripheral wall 101 coupled to attachmentcomponents 102. To secure the attachment components 102 with thecommunications device, the attachment components 102 generallycorresponds in shape to the outline of the communications device it isdesigned to fit around. It should be noted that other attachment meansmay be utilized to secure holster 100 to a communications device, solong as the communications device is removable from the holster.

To provide visual access to the touchscreen on the communicationsdevice, a first aperture (window) 103 is disposed in peripheral wall101. Aperture 103 can have any suitable size and shape such as, forexample, rectangular. In the illustrated embodiment, when thecommunications device is holstered, the first aperture 103 is locatedproximate to a portion of a touchscreen on the communications device.Light from the portion of the touchscreen passes through first aperture103, off of mirror 105, and through second aperture 104, to be seen by auser.

Second aperture 104 is provided on a top portion of holster 100 existingwithin housing 106. Second aperture 104 exists through a surface that issubstantially perpendicular to a surface having first aperture 103, andfaces upward towards a user when holster 100 is worn on a belt. Bothfirst aperture 103 and second aperture 104 may comprise a transparentsurface such as glass or plastic, so that apertures 103 and 104 may bethought of as “windows”, through which, light can pass. These windowsare perpendicular to each other.

To align the touchscreen on the communications device to second aperture104, optical reflector 105 is positioned between first aperture 103 andsecond aperture 104. Optical reflector 105 has a surface that ispositioned approximately 45 degrees to first aperture 103, and 45degrees from second aperture 104 (i.e., 45 degrees to surfaces holdingfirst and second apertures). Optical reflector 105 can change thedirection of light rays that reflect off of it. The materials, shapeand/or coatings of optical reflector 105 can be selected to alter thenormally linear path of a light ray incident upon the reflector bychanging its angular direction

To align optical reflector 105 with the touchscreen on thecommunications device to direct the reflected portion of the touchscreenthrough second aperture 104, holster 100 includes reflector housing 106that is attached to an outer surface of holster 100. Housing 106 isgenerally hollow with walls spaced to accommodate optical reflector 105and both apertures 103 and 104.

Finally, conductive strips 107 and conductive pads 108 are provided onholster 100. Conductive strips 107 begin on window 104 and terminate atpads 108. Conductive pads 108 serve to make contact with a touchscreenon a communications device. Conductive strips 107 may lie over at leasta portion of window 104. Both conductive strips 107 and conductive pads108 are utilized to channel a conduction of a finger contact near/onwindow 104 to a touchscreen on a communication device. Conductive strips107 and pads 108 are preferably transparent and comprise ITO (Indium TinOxide). ITO is common in touch panels since it is transparent and ableto conduct electricity.

FIG. 2 shows holster 100 along with communications device 203. It shouldbe observed that holster 100 is designed to display portion 204 oftouchscreen 202 through window 104. In particular, an image from a firstportion 204 of a display 202 is visible by looking through window 104.This is accomplished by holster 100 reflecting the image from the firstportion 204 of touchscreen 202 by positioning reflecting surface 105between windows 103 and 104. The orientation of the reflecting surfaceis such that light from first portion 204 enters window 103, and isreflected through window 104.

Holster 100 also comprises clip 201 configured to clip over a belt.

Communication device 203 may be a portable radio, a radio, a body-worncamera, a mobile device, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), or thelike. Communication device 203 includes housing 205 designed to receiveholster 100. Communication device 203 in accordance with an embodimenthas touchscreen 202 coupled to the housing 106. Touch-sensitive displays(also known as “touchscreens”) are well known in the art. Touchscreensare used in many electronic devices to display control buttons,graphics, text, and to provide a user interface through which a user mayinteract with the device. A touchscreen detects and responds to contacton its surface. A device may display one or more control buttons, softkeys, menus, and other user-interface elements on the touchscreen. Auser may interact with the device 203 by contacting the touchscreen atlocations corresponding to the user-interface (UI) elements with whichthey wish to interact.

As described, touchscreen 202 may be divided into two portions or areas;first portion/area 204 and second portion/area 206. In one embodiment,the second portion/area 206 may be thought of as everything outside offirst portion/area 204. When holster 100 is attached to device 203,first portion 204 of the display 202 is visible to a user through window104. Second portion 206 of the display 202 is not directly visible tothe user when holster 100 is attached to device 203. Because of this,one or more second portion 206 of the display is operated in a low-powerstate when holster 100 is attached to device 203. When holster 100 isattached to radio 203, the image displayed on first portion 204 ofdisplay 202 is an inverted image to account for the fact that the viewof the image through holster 100 is off a reflecting surface.

FIG. 3 is a cutaway view of holster 100 attached to device 203. Asdescribed above, conducting element 107 and pad 108 are arranged suchthat a finger contact to conductive element 107 (on or near window 104)will cause a capacitance change to element 107 and pad 108, causingtouchscreen to sense a capacitance change on its surface. The locationof the sensed capacitance change on the surface of the touchscreen is atthe location where pad 108 makes contact with the touchscreen.

As shown, reflecting element 105 is placed proximate to first portion204 of the touchscreen. The first portion 204 is reflected such that auser looking through window 104 will be able to see first portion 204.Lens 301 may be located between window 104 and reflector 105 to betterfocus first portion 204 for a user.

In FIG. 4, communication device 203 is shown without holster 100attached, however, for illustration purposes, touchscreen 202 is shownoperating as if holster 100 is attached to device 203. Thus, firstportion 204, and second portion 206 of the touchscreen 202 are shown asit would appear if holster 100 were attached. As is evident, firstportion 204 is illuminated with several user interface elements, whilesecond portion 206 is powered off (nothing is displayed) or operated ina low-power state.

As shown in FIG. 5, first portion 204 of the touchscreen is displayedthrough window 104 when holster 100 is attached. With three conductivepads 108 touching the touchscreen, a user can access interact with threespots on the touchscreen to control three user interface elements(applications, electronic buttons, . . . , etc.) existing near the threecontact points between pads 108 and the touchscreen.

As discussed, in one embodiment of the present invention, communicationdevice 203 will switch to a low-power state when connected to holster100. More specifically, since second portion 206 will be invisible to auser when holster 100 is attached to device 203, no information willneed to be displayed on second portion 206 of the touchscreen. Thus,second portion 206 of the touchscreen will power down when holster 100is attached to device 203.

The low-power state that is entered upon holster 100 being attached mayalso comprise various processors within device 203 entering a low-powerstate. For example, all application processors (APs) may enter alow-power state when holster 100 is attached. In this low-power state,baseband processors (BPs) may remain in a powered-up state. (BPscomprise the processors necessary to control communications withindevice 203. Such processors control transmitters and receivers necessaryfor communication).

In addition, when holster 100 is attached to device 203, various userinterface elements will be repositioned so that they are visible throughwindow 104. This will preferably be near each conductive pad 108. So,for example, if three conductive pads 108 exist, then three interfaceelements will be placed near the three conductive pads 108, such thateach conductive pad 108 serves to channel a touch from a user (ontowindow 104) to the touchscreen near the interface element controlled byconductive pad 108. This is illustrated in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 6, when device 203 is not coupled to holster 100,device 203 has many interface items displayed on both first portion 204and second portion 206 of touchscreen 202. When coupled to holster 100(holster 100 not shown in FIG. 6), device 203 has no interface itemsdisplayed in second portion 206 of touchscreen 202, and has a fewcritical interface items displayed in first portion 204 of touchscreen202. The interface items displayed after coupling device 203 to holster100 may be interface items that were originally displayed in anotherlocation on the touchscreen, then moved to the first portion 204.Alternatively, the interface items displayed after coupling device 203to holster 100 may be interface items that were originally displayed insecond portion 206 on the touchscreen, then moved to the first portion204. Alternatively, the interface items displayed after coupling device203 to holster 100 may be interface items that were originally notdisplayed on the touchscreen, then displayed on the first portion 204after device 203 is coupled to holster 100.

Thus, as described above, the attachment of holster 100 to device 203causes device 203 to enter a low-power state, and also causes device 203to rearrange interface elements (icons) on the touchscreen so thatvarious high-priority interface elements are placed within first portion204 of the touchscreen. The number of interface elements within secondportion corresponds to the number of conductive pads 108 in contact withthe touchscreen. So for example, if three conductive pads 108 are incontact with the touchscreen, then three user interface elements will berepositioned into the first portion 204 of the touchscreen.

As is evident, device 203 will need a mechanism to determine whenholster 100 is attached to it so that it may rearrange interfaceelements as discussed above, and enter a low-power state. In order toaccomplish this task, device 203 is configured with a magnetic switchthat detects the presence of magnet 109. Holster 100 is equipped withmagnet 109 that engages the magnetic switch when holster 100 is coupledto device 203. Although magnet 109 is shown existing in a particulararea of holster 100, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognizethat magnet 109 may exist anywhere on holster 100 so long as themagnetic switch is engaged when holster 100 is coupled to device 103.

During operation, holster will have magnet 109 incorporated on itssurface. Magnet 109 serves as a trip to a switch (switch trip). When themagnetic switch detects magnet 109, the apparatus will exit a high-powerstate and enter a low-power state. When magnet 109 is not detected bydevice 203, device 203 again enters a high-power state. Thus, magnet 109is configured and located to cause device 203 to enter a low-power stateupon its detection. The low-power state preferably comprises a statewhere the second portion of display is off, and not displaying anyinformation, or alternatively, displaying minimal information comparedto when the display is in a higher-power state (awake).

The detection of magnet 109 also causes device 203 to rearrange userinterface elements on its touchscreen as described above. Thus, magnet109 is configured and positioned to cause device 203 to rearrangeinterface elements upon its detection.

The detection of magnet 109 may also cause device 203 to power downcertain processors. For example, an application processor (AP) typicallyis the primary driver for the front touch display while a basebandprocessor (BP) is only responsible for the low power processingapplication. In a typical operation mode, the AP is running and drivingthe front touch display. Once the radio is placed in the holster wherethe magnet is detected, the AP will be turned in sleep mode while the BPwill take over the control of the display interface for top displaypurposes.

FIG. 1 through FIG. 6 show a holster comprising a shell (101, 102)configured to engage a communications device (203) and be removed fromthe communication device. A first window (103) is provided with a secondwindow (104) substantially perpendicular to the first window. Areflecting element (105) is disposed between the first and the secondwindows. A conductive runner (107) is provided existing between thefirst and the second windows and terminating at a conductive pad (108).As discussed, the conductive pad is designed to make contact with atouchscreen (202) when the shell is engaged to the communicationsdevice.

The conductive runner may sit on the surface of window 104. A switchtrip (109) is provided and configured to engage a switch (708) on thecommunications device, causing the communications device to rearrangeinformation elements on the touchscreen.

The switch trip (109) may also be configured to engage a switch (708) onthe communications device, causing the communications device to enter alow-power state. As discussed, the low-power state may power down asecond area (206) of the touchscreen, and/or power down an applicationsprocessor within the communications device.

The switch trip (109) may also be configured to engage a switch (708) onthe communications device, causing the communications device tointerpret a touch not on an information element to engage theinformation element. In other words, the switch trip (109) may beconfigured to engage a switch (708) on the communications device,causing the communications device to interpret a touch to a first areaof the touchscreen as a touch to an information element existing on asecond area of the touchscreen.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of device 203. Device 203 comprises magneticswitch 708, baseband processor 701, applications processor 702, display202, and logic circuitry 703. As discussed above, magnetic switch 708comprises a switch that detects the presence of a magnetic field. Moreparticularly, switch 708 is configured to detect the coupling of holster100 with device 203 by detecting the presence of magnet 109.

Baseband processor 701 comprises a low power, low processing processor,for example, a Texas Instrument OMAP L138 processor, while applicationsprocessor 702 comprises a high power processor, for example a QualcommMSM8953 processor.

Logic circuitry 703 preferably comprises a microprocessor/controllerthat controls the functionality of device 203. More particularly, logiccircuitry 703 determines that holster 100 has been coupled to device203. Logic circuitry 703 then causes icons to be rearranged on display202 as discussed above, and causes operating display 202 in a low-powerstate. Logic circuitry 703 may also cause the powering down ofapplications processor 702 so that processor 702 is operating in alow-powered state.

If logic circuitry 703 detects that holster 100 has been uncoupled fromdevice 203, then logic circuitry 703 then causes icons to be rearrangedon display 202 as discussed above, and causes operating display 202 in ahigh-power state. Logic circuitry 703 may also power up applicationsprocessor 702 so that processor 702 is operating in a high-poweredstate.

FIG. 7 provides for a communications device comprising a touchscreen, ahousing configured to engage a holster, and a switch configured todetermine that the housing is engaged with the holster. Logic circuitryis provided and configured to operate the communications device torearrange information elements on the touchscreen at a time when thehousing is engaged with the holster, the logic circuitry also configuredto operate the communications device to again rearrange informationelements on the touchscreen at a time when the housing is disengagedwith the holster.

As discussed, the logic circuitry can also be configured to operate thecommunications device in a low-power state at a time when the housing isengaged with the holster, the logic circuitry also configured to operatethe communications device in a high-power state at a time when thehousing is disengaged with the holster.

The communications device also comprises an applications processor,wherein the low-power state powers down an applications processor withinthe communications device.

The logic circuitry can also be configured to operate the communicationsdevice by interpreting a touch not on an information element to engagethe information element when the housing is engaged with the holster,the logic circuitry can also be configured to operate the communicationsdevice by interpreting a touch on the information element to engage theinformation element when the housing is disengaged with the holster.

The logic circuitry can also be configured to operate the communicationsdevice by interpreting a touch to a first area of the touchscreen as atouch to an information element existing on a second area of thetouchscreen when the housing is engaged with the holster, the logiccircuitry can also be configured to operate the communications device byinterpreting a touch on the information element as a touch to engage theinformation element when the housing is disengaged with the holster.

It should be noted that if conductive pads 108 lie over any interfaceelement they wish to couple to, pads 108 may visually block anyinformation element that lies within first area 204 of touchscreen 202.Therefore, if conductive pads 108 terminate on top of the informationelement within first area 204, they may block them from being seen inwindow 204. This is illustrated in FIG. 8, with conductive pad 108terminating within first area 204. In order to address this issue,conductive pad 108 may terminate near first area 204, or not withinfirst area 204, or within second area 206. This is shown in FIG. 9.

As is evident in FIG. 9, conductive pad 108 now terminates outside area204, but will still control the information element directly below it.Because of this, logic circuitry 703 will need to interpret a “touch” tothe touchscreen at the point of conductive pad 108 with a particularinformation element within first area 204. In other words, when holster100 is coupled to device 203, logic circuitry will need to interpret atouch to a point near an information element as contact to theinformation element. The area that controls each information element ispredefined prior to implementation of the present invention. Thisresults in a touch near the information element engaging the informationelement when holster 100 is attached to device 203. It should be notedthat only a touch on the information element will engage the informationelement when holster 100 is not attached to device 203.

Thus, as shown, an information element (e.g., an icon that controls anapplication) is displayed on a touchscreen. A touch to an area that doesnot comprise the information element will be used to control theinformation element. In other words, a touch to a particular area of thetouch screen not comprising the information element, will control thedisplayed information element.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing operation of device 203. The logic flowbegins at step 1001 where touchscreen 202 is displaying informationelements. At step 1003, logic circuitry 703 determines that acommunications device 203 is engaged with the holster. As discussedabove, this determination is made by magnet 109 engaging switch 708.However, in alternate embodiments of the present invention, thedetermination may be made by other techniques, including, but notlimited to other forms of switches detecting that communications device203 is engaged with the holster.

As discussed above, the communications device is operated to rearrangeinformation elements on the touchscreen at a time when thecommunications device is engaged with the holster (step 1005). Therearrangement may comprise moving important information elements to aparticular area of the touchscreen so that they can be visible throughwidow 104.

At step 1007, logic circuitry 703 determines that the communicationsdevice is disengaged with the holster. As discussed above, this isaccomplished by determining that switch 708 no longer detects magnet109. Once disengaged with the holster, the communications device againrearranges information elements on the touchscreen (step 1009). Therearrangement may complies adding multiple information elements to thetouchscreen that were not there when the holster and the communicationsdevice were engaged.

In other embodiments of the present invention, the communications devicemay be operated in a low-power state at a time when the communicationsdevice is engaged with the holster, and operated in a high-power stateat a time when the communications device is disengaged with the holster.

In other embodiments of the present invention, the communications devicemay be operated by interpreting a touch not on an information element asa touch to engage the information element when the communications deviceis engaged with the holster, and operated by interpreting a touch on theinformation element as a touch to engage the information element whenthe communications device is disengaged with the holster.

In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have beendescribed. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates thatvarious modifications and changes can be made without departing from thescope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly,the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrativerather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intendedto be included within the scope of present teachings.

Those skilled in the art will further recognize that references tospecific implementation embodiments such as “circuitry” may equally beaccomplished via either on general purpose computing apparatus (e.g.,CPU) or specialized processing apparatus (e.g., DSP) executing softwareinstructions stored in non-transitory computer-readable memory. It willalso be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have theordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressionsby persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above exceptwhere different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) thatmay cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become morepronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essentialfeatures or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is definedsolely by the appended claims including any amendments made during thependency of this application and all equivalents of those claims asissued.

Moreover in this document, relational terms such as first and second,top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish oneentity or action from another entity or action without necessarilyrequiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between suchentities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has”,“having,” “includes”, “including,” “contains”, “containing” or any othervariation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, suchthat a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has,includes, contains a list of elements does not include only thoseelements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherentto such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by“comprises . . . a”, “has . . . a”, “includes . . . a”, “contains . . .a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence ofadditional identical elements in the process, method, article, orapparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms“a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless explicitly statedotherwise herein. The terms “substantially”, “essentially”,“approximately”, “about” or any other version thereof, are defined asbeing close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and inone non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, inanother embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and inanother embodiment within 0.5%. The term “coupled” as used herein isdefined as connected, although not necessarily directly and notnecessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is “configured” ina certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also beconfigured in ways that are not listed.

It will be appreciated that some embodiments may be comprised of one ormore generic or specialized processors (or “processing devices”) such asmicroprocessors, digital signal processors, customized processors andfield programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and unique stored programinstructions (including both software and firmware) that control the oneor more processors to implement, in conjunction with certainnon-processor circuits, some, most, or all of the functions of themethod and/or apparatus described herein. Alternatively, some or allfunctions could be implemented by a state machine that has no storedprogram instructions, or in one or more application specific integratedcircuits (ASICs), in which each function or some combinations of certainof the functions are implemented as custom logic. Of course, acombination of the two approaches could be used.

Moreover, an embodiment can be implemented as a computer-readablestorage medium having computer readable code stored thereon forprogramming a computer (e.g., comprising a processor) to perform amethod as described and claimed herein. Examples of suchcomputer-readable storage mediums include, but are not limited to, ahard disk, a CD-ROM, an optical storage device, a magnetic storagedevice, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable Read OnlyMemory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), an EEPROM(Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) and a Flashmemory. Further, it is expected that one of ordinary skill,notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design choicesmotivated by, for example, available time, current technology, andeconomic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principlesdisclosed herein will be readily capable of generating such softwareinstructions and programs and ICs with minimal experimentation.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader toquickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It issubmitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpretor limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in theforegoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features aregrouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamliningthe disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than allfeatures of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims arehereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claimstanding on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a shell (101, 102)configured to engage a communications device (203) and be removed fromthe communication device; a first window (103); a second window (104)substantially perpendicular to the first window; a reflecting element(105) disposed between the first and the second windows; and aconductive runner (107) existing between the first and the secondwindows and terminating at a conductive pad (108), wherein theconductive pad is designed to make contact with a touchscreen (202) whenthe shell is engaged to the communications device.
 2. The apparatus ofclaim 1 further comprising: a switch trip (109) configured to engage aswitch (708) on the communications device, causing the communicationsdevice to rearrange information elements on the touchscreen.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a switch trip (109) configuredto engage a switch (708) on the communications device, causing thecommunications device to enter a low-power state.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 3 wherein the low-power state powers down a second area (206) ofthe touchscreen.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the low-power statepowers down an applications processor within the communications device.6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a switch trip (109)configured to engage a switch (708) on the communications device,causing the communications device to interpret a touch not on aninformation element as a touch to engage the information element.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a switch trip (109) configuredto engage a switch (708) on the communications device, causing thecommunications device to interpret a touch to a first area of thetouchscreen as a touch to an information element existing on a secondarea of the touchscreen.
 8. An apparatus comprising: a shell (101, 102)configured to engage a communications device (203) and be removed fromthe communication device; a first window (103); a second window (104)substantially perpendicular to the first window; a reflecting element(105) disposed between the first and the second windows; a conductiverunner (107) existing between the first and the second windows andterminating at a conductive pad (108), wherein the conductive pad isdesigned to make contact with a touchscreen (202) when the shell isengaged to the communications device; and a switch trip (109) configuredto engage a switch (708) on the communications device, causing thecommunications device to: rearrange information elements on thetouchscreen; enter a low-power state; interpret a touch to a first areaof the touchscreen as a touch to an information element existing on asecond area of the touchscreen.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein thelow-power state powers down a second area (206) of the touchscreen. 10.The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the low-power state powers down anapplications processor within the communications device.